Send us a text

This episode of the DASL Podcast features an extraordinary conversation with Dr. Helen M. Berman, a pioneering structural biologist whose visionary work reshaped modern science. As one of the founders of the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and creator of the Nucleic Acid Database, Helen has spent her career building global scientific infrastructure that now underpins everything from structural biology to AI-driven protein prediction. Yet behind these groundbreaking achievements lies a personal story defined by passion, persistence, and profound resilience.

Helen reflects on her early beginnings—discovering science at age 15 through an NSF research program, falling in love with crystallography as a college student, and training under demanding but transformative mentors who shaped her scientific identity. She shares how these early experiences ignited a lifelong drive to understand molecular structure and to build collaborative systems that serve the scientific community.

The episode traces Helen’s journey through academia, from setting up her first lab at Fox Chase Cancer Center to leading international collaborations that forever changed biological data sharing. She speaks candidly about the challenges faced by women entering science in the 1960s, including inequities in salary and representation, and how the confidence and preparation she received from Barnard College empowered her to persevere. Her insights illuminate not only the progress made, but the structural biases that continue to shape scientific careers today.

A deeply moving part of the conversation centers on Helen’s three battles with cancer, beginning when her son was just three years old. She discusses navigating diagnosis, treatment, recurrence, while raising a child and sustaining a demanding scientific career. From seeking psychological support to reframing cancer as a “muse,” Helen offers a rare and vulnerable window into survival, identity, and choice. Her story reveals the inner strength required to move forward when life becomes unimaginably hard—and how science itself helped her make meaning of her experiences.

The episode also explores Helen’s philosophy of leadership, mentorship, and collaboration. She reflects on the mentors who shaped her, the joy of supporting new generations of scientists, and the conviction that passion—combined with persistence—makes scientific innovation possible. Her belief in bringing people together, often long before formal structures existed, helped catalyze some of biology’s most influential community efforts.

Looking to the future, Helen discusses what excites her most about science today—from targeted cancer therapies to breakthroughs in structural prediction—and why effective science communication has become her urgent mission. Now working with collaborators in film, VR, and digital outreach, she is dedicated to bridging the growing gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding.

Helen’s story is a testament to courage, vision, and the transformative power of community. Her life’s work has touched every corner of structural biology, yet her reflections in this episode offer something even more profound: a roadmap for living with purpose, leading with compassion, and overcoming adversity with clarity and grace.

Are you interested in sharing your story on the DASL Podcast? Nominate yourself or someone you know to be a guest by filling out our intake form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMipiFRpxpWj_IEDte8mBAKA9n7BCe2ylBLNNY_H6zTE5Ogg/viewform.
We’re excited to feature voices that inspire, empower, and contribute to our diverse community.

Send us a text

This episode of the DASL Podcast features a heartfelt and deeply honest conversation with Saroj Gourkanti, a sixth-year PhD candidate at UC San Diego whose journey through science, identity, and advocacy offers a compelling window into the realities of academic life. From discovering research in high school to building an entirely new project from the ground up, Saroj reflects on how curiosity, mentorship, and community shaped their trajectory—and how queerness, resilience, and self-discovery have guided him through both triumphs and challenges.

Saroj shares the story of carving out a scientific path while navigating the expectations of a medically oriented family, the pressures of elite academic environments, and the often-invisible complexities of being a queer scientist in spaces that don’t always feel welcoming. His PhD journey highlights the emotional realities behind scientific discovery: the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the breakthroughs that arrive after years of quiet work, and the profound growth that comes from building something entirely your own.

A significant part of the episode explores mentorship and belonging. Saroj speaks candidly about what it means to find your voice early in scientific training, and how supportive mentors shaped their confidence and identity. Now a mentor to others, Saroj shares his philosophy of leading with empathy, meeting trainees where they are, and helping them recognize their own worth. He offers powerful insights into adapting mentorship styles, fostering psychological safety, and countering the outdated belief that success requires suffering.

The conversation also dives into advocacy and community-building, including Saroj’s founding of grad oSTEM at UC San Diego, a graduate organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ scientists. He discusses the importance of visible queer leadership in STEM, the need for institutional accountability, and the healing power of finding community among peers who understand your lived experience. His reflections illuminate how identity shapes scientific practice—and how creating inclusive spaces can transform not just individuals, but entire academic ecosystems.

In the final part of the episode, Saroj offers grounded, hopeful advice for trainees confronting uncertainty in today’s scientific landscape, especially amid funding cuts and shifting career prospects. He challenges the narrow definition of “success” in academia and encourages listeners to broaden their horizons, explore paths beyond traditional expectations, and define a fulfilling future on their own terms.

Saroj’s openness, vulnerability, and wisdom make this conversation an essential listen for anyone navigating the complexities of research, identity, or belonging in STEM. His story is a reminder that science is not only about discovery—it is about the communities we build, the people we uplift, and the courage it takes to show up authentically in a world that doesn’t always make space for everyone.

Are you interested in sharing your story on the DASL Podcast? Nominate yourself or someone you know to be a guest by filling out our intake form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMipiFRpxpWj_IEDte8mBAKA9n7BCe2ylBLNNY_H6zTE5Ogg/viewform.
We’re excited to feature voices that inspire, empower, and contribute to our diverse community.

Send us a text

In this episode of the DASL Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dionna Williams, Associate Professor at Emory University, whose research focuses on HIV research and the impact of substance use disorders on treatment outcomes. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Williams shares her journey of navigating academia and building a scientific career defined by resilience, determination, and purpose, emphasizing how mentorship became the cornerstone of her growth.

She speaks candidly about her intersecting identities—as a Black, autistic, disabled, non-binary scientist—and how these experiences have shaped her path in STEM. From confronting bias and lack of representation to finding support within and outside academia, Dr. Williams offers powerful insights into resilience, belonging, and advocacy.

Now a mentor to more than 50 trainees, she reflects on fostering inclusive environments, creating community through initiatives like the Mentoring Family Program, and why “a good mentor is the number one indicator of success.” Her journey is a powerful reminder of how support, advocacy, and representation can transform lives in science.

Listeners will gain her vision of mentorship as a driver of growth, her strategies for building community among underrepresented trainees, and her advice for both students seeking supportive mentors and faculty striving to foster equitable spaces.

Her openness offers a rare and honest look at the realities of navigating academia with intersecting identities, reminding us that mentorship can change trajectories and that vulnerability, when embraced, has the power to spark systemic change

Are you interested in sharing your story on the DASL Podcast? Nominate yourself or someone you know to be a guest by filling out our intake form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMipiFRpxpWj_IEDte8mBAKA9n7BCe2ylBLNNY_H6zTE5Ogg/viewform.
We’re excited to feature voices that inspire, empower, and contribute to our diverse community.